A thunderous last-minute strike from Mousa Dembélé sent Tottenham Hotspur FC through to the UEFA Europa League's last 16 just as their hopes of progress looked to be ebbing away against Olympique Lyonnais in France.

Beaten 2-1 in London last week, Lyon put themselves ahead in the tie after 17 minutes as Maxime Gonalons found the net from a Clément Grenier free-kick. The Ligue 1 club had the better of the opening half and battened down the hatches in the second, only for Dembélé to end their resistance and set up a glamorous round of 16 tie with FC Internazionale Milano.

Tottenham made a probing start, yet it was Brad Friedel who had to make the first save when he clutched hold of an Alexandre Lacazette header. Talented playmaker Grenier provided the cross on that occasion and the No7 served up an even better delivery to help Lyon go in front, picking out Gonalons to nod in at the near post.

Spurs tried to build pressure in response, but they were soon forced back by their committed hosts, who almost struck again when Lisandro pulled wide. The Premier League side nonetheless ended the half with a flourish as Lewis Holtby forced Rémy Vercoutre to tip his low effort onto the post from 20 metres.

Scorer of two free-kicks in the first leg, Gareth Bale then christened a pulsating second period by volleying narrowly wide from Emmanuel Adebayor's deep cross. With Tottenham obliged to score, the match was opening up pleasantly – at both ends too, Friedel saving with his legs from Grenier.

As for Vercoutre, he twice batted away Bale attempts from distance – the first a swerving set piece – and was relieved to see an Adebayor cross bounce off the crossbar. Time was running out for the visitors, but they conjured a dramatic late equaliser to turn the tie in their favour, Dembélé drilling beyond Vercoutre from 25 metres out.

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